The Affordable Care Act Is Helping Millions of Americans

For Immediate Release:

March 20, 2014

More than 5 million Americans have signed up for private health insurance plans through the federal and state marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act. Already, the Affordable Care Act is benefitting millions of families: lifetime limits have been eliminated, no longer can Americans be denied care or dropped because of a pre-existing condition, and young people can be covered on their parents’ plan until age 26. As the March 31st deadline for open enrollment approaches, here is a look at news from across the country, showing that more and more Americans are benefiting from the Affordable Care Act every day:

IN THE NEWS:

March 17: Obamacare enrollment tops 5 million amid surge in sign-ups

“More than 5 million people have now signed up for health insurance on marketplaces created by President Obama’s healthcare law, thanks to a surge in enrollment over the last two weeks, the Obama administration announced Monday.”

“The quickening pace of sign-ups confirms that many Americans are using the new marketplaces as a March 31 deadline approaches for getting coverage this year.” [3/17/14]

March 16: Obamacare Explained: After so many complaints, a success story

“Stacy Calvert tweeted: Thank you (Nevada Health CO-OP) for making my mother’s day. Signed my parents up for ACA today with ease!”

“Calvert’s mom left with a policy for her and her husband that costs $215 a month. The deductible is $1,500 to $3,000.”

“’That’s amazing to me that they’re going to pay that for both of them. With all of the medical (stuff) they have to deal with, that is unbelievable,’ Calvert said.” [3/16/14]

March 14: Former New Hampshire GOP Chair Saves $1,000 A Month With Obamacare

“The former chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party will save $1,000 a month in premiums for his family's health care package after signing up for a new policy through the Obamacare exchange.”

“Stories similar to Cullen's are being told by folks across the country -- that the Affordable Care Act has benefits that must be weighed against its downsides. What makes his tale a bit rarer is that he's one of the few Republicans of stature willing to acknowledge the tradeoffs.” [3/14/14]

February 21: Maybe there are no genuine Obamacare horror stories

“Kevin Drum wonders whether there's a single genuine Obamacare horror story out there, given that virtually every yarn promoted by Republicans or conservatives about people hurt by the Affordable Care Act has deflated like a pricked balloon on the merest examination.

“Boonstra's case is just the latest of a very long line of deflatable horror stories. We've debunked a passel of them here, from Florida resident Diane Barrette, who didn't realize she'd been empowered by the ACA to move from a costly junk insurance plan to a cheaper real insurance plan; to Los Angeles real estate agent Deborah Cavallaro, whose ‘unaffordable’ premiums turned out to be eminently affordable; to San Diego business owner Edie Sundby, whose cancer coverage was safeguarded by Obamacare after her insurer bailed out on her for financial reasons; to ‘Bette,’ the supposed victim trotted out by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) in her response to the State of the Union message last month, and who turned out to be an ACA "victim" because she couldn't be bothered actually to investigate her options for affordable care on the Washington state enrollment website.” [2/21/14]

AMERICANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHARE HOW THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE COVERAGE:

March 11: Peter MacNichols

“In spite of Republican scare stories, my family has had good success with the Affordable Care Act. One cousin in California writes that before the ACA, with her pre-existing condition (sleep apnea) there was only one insurance policy she could get in the state. …”

“However, under the ACA she found a better policy with zero deductible and $30 co-pays that cost about $815 a month — approximately $300 less than her old policy. In addition, under the ACA, she qualified for a subsidy of about $500 a month. This meant that her new policy would cost her about $800 less out of pocket than her old policy. And she still sees the same doctors as she did before.” [3/11/14]

February 27: Mark Lewasder

“I have heard so many stories about the horrors of the Affordable Care Act but no positive ones. Well, here is a story no one is reporting on because a success story is a boring one.”

“My 20-year-old son is again covered by my wife’s culinary insurance, as is my 22-year-old daughter.”

“My 29-year-old daughter has insurance through Nevada Health Link, including medical, dental and a vision add-on for $5.33 per month. She has a pre-existing condition that would not have been covered otherwise.”

“My 33-year-old son has been added to the Medicaid rolls through Nevada Health Link, as he doesn’t have a large monthly income.”

“I would certainly like to know if I am the only lucky one whose entire family has benefited from the new health care law.” [2/27/14]

February 18: Susan Maxwell

“I am an Obamacare success story.”

“Today I pay $344 a month for a plan with a $2,000 deductible, co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions, $200 co-pay to go to the emergency ward. (I paid $3,600 plus $600 doctor and $600 X-rays for a four-hour emergency ward stay due to a kidney stone in 2009).”

“I’m getting free preventive care including a colonoscopy, mammogram and blood test. I’m seeing a specialist for a problem I’ve had for years that ‘could maybe’ develop into something serious. I will pay $60 to see the specialist. I couldn’t afford to spend money on “could maybes.” I will have some peace of mind.”

“Remember that Obamacare is not a form of health insurance. It is an avenue to help people afford health insurance.” [2/18/14]

February 14: Laurent Hodges

“With regard to your article on the favorable experience many have had with Obamacare, my story is that I was able to buy my daughter in Illinois a new plan through Healthcare.gov for only $150 a month. It was, actually, better than her previous $240-a-month plan. That’s a saving of over $1,000 a year.” [2/14/14]

February 3: Nancy Seagraves

“I recently encouraged a friend to enroll her family in Obamacare. I don’t know whether she approved of the Affordable Care Act or not, but she really needed insurance.”

“I explained that with health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, there is no penalty for pre-existing conditions, no co-pay for preventative health care, and children can stay on a family insurance plan until they are 26 years old.”

“My friend made an appointment with an Obamacare health insurance navigator, and I’m happy to say that, as of Saturday, her family, which qualified for financial assistance for insurance, has a family health insurance plan priced at $367 monthly, a silver plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield.” [2/3/14]

January 22: Maryalene LaPonsie: Why I’m Republican and Love Obamacare

“On a different note, I love that Obamacare is requiring insurance companies to provide free preventive services and cover essential services.”

“Same thing goes for mental health services which, prior to the passage of Obamacare, were not covered by 1 in 5 individual health insurance plans. Under the law, mental health and substance abuse services are essential health benefits and must be covered by all new health insurance plans.”

“So many government assistance programs are geared toward people living at or just above the poverty limit, and I love that Obamacare is extending some financial love to the working middle class.” [1/22/14]

March 18: Vincent DeMarco, President of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative

“Tom Friedel is among the more than 230,000 Marylanders who have already benefited from the ACA. Mr. Friedel's family had insurance, but with his plan year ending, he wanted to see if he could get better coverage at an affordable premium. The plan his family had provided little real health care coverage. With support from a navigator at Health Care Access Maryland, he not only successfully signed himself up for a good new plan that he could afford, he also learned that his son was eligible for coverage under the Maryland Children's Health Insurance Program, which he had not heard of before.”[3/18/14]